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At a time when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model of governance is hogging all the limelight, his counterpart in Bihar held a mammoth public rally here on Sunday to claim that what he followed in the State was the “real model” of development.
Kumar’s party, the Janata Dal (United) – the second largest partner of the Opposition National Democratic Alliance – had publicly opposed the move to project Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the alliance.
Kumar is also seen as a contender for the top post after the 2014 general elections.
In the “Adhikar Rally” held in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground, Kumar declared that Bihar would leave every State behind and move ahead with development.
He said he would present his model of development to the world.
“These days development models are being discussed. This model takes along everyone together. This is the real development model of India,” he added.
He reiterated his demand of ‘special status’ to Bihar considering its backwardness. “All the backward States should get their rights. We are not begging, special status is our right. We won’t stay quiet until Bihar gets special status,” he told the cheering crowd.
Kumar plans to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday to press his demand.
Cong move?
Meanwhile, there was a buzz among political circles here that the Congress was trying to attract JD(U) by offering a financial package for Bihar.
At the rally, Kumar also indicated that the next Government at Centre could be formed only with his support.
“Either you give special status now or after 2014, you will have to give it. You will have to accept the demand in circumstances that will be there after 2014.
“Only those who feel strongly about the backward States will occupy the seat of power in Delhi,” Kumar added.
He said that Bihar ranked low in almost all national indices of human resource development.
“We are improving. And if the Centre gives special status to Bihar at this time, the State will chart out on the development path. This is the time that the Centre should extend a helping hand,” Kumar said.
Later, the rally passed a resolution demanding time-bound implementation of the promise made in the last Budget for more financial assistance to Bihar.
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